Share this article

Share

'He
made no secret of his addiction to drugs and alcohol but there was
another addiction, which he never admitted but which became increasingly
evident in his own work – to saccharine, tooth-rotting sentimentality.

'Were
the bad films made when drink or drugs played their part? You might
also ask, what caused a man of such gifts to rely so heavily on drink
and drugs?'

Norman said Williams's role as the nanny in Mrs Doubtfire was 'uproarious Williams', but not his role as the father

'An enormous talent': Robin Williams in the 1987 film Good Morning Vietnam

Norman's comments are in his column published in this month's edition of the Radio Times

Speaking about one of the actor's best-loved roles in Mrs Doubtfire, Norman said. 'The nanny is good, uproarious Williams; the father, all tearful sentimentality, is the bad one.'

On the 1998 film What Dreams May Come, Norman said: 'It was unrelentingly weepy and he was so cringe-inducing that if it were the only Williams film you ever saw, you would say, with confidence, that he would never make an actor.'

Williams was found dead in his home at the age of 63 and is survived by his three children and third wife Susan.

Flowers and tributes placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame star for late actor Robin Williams in Hollywood, California

Police said he died of asphyxia due to hanging.

His wife later said her husband had been sober but "not yet ready to share publicly" his struggles with Parkinson's.

She added that he had also been suffering from anxiety and depression.

He added: 'I only met Williams once and then briefly at some film function. He was warm, charming, and funny, and I think everyone found him so.

'Certainly I never heard anyone badmouth him. If we forgive the bad films he is a great loss, because, given the right vehicle, he still had so much to offer.'